Warp drier



Dec. 11, 1934. A. o. HURXTHAL ET AL 1,984,270

WARP DRIER Filed May 26, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l MQLW Dec. 11, 1934.

A. O. HURXTHAL ET AL WARP DRIER Filed May 26, 1953 3 SheetsSheet 2 gwmvv-m Dec. 11, 1934. A. o. HURXTHAL ET AL 1,984,270

WARP DRIER Filed May 26, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [M i wwoa ij Patented Dec. 11, 1934 team WARP DRIER Alpheus 0. Hurxthal and Frederick E. Hurxthal,

Philadelphia, Pa.,

assignors to Proctor &

Schwartz, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 26, 1933, Serial No. 673,098

15 Claims.

This invention relates to driers and other processing apparatus, and more particularly to certain improvements to the loop or festoon type of drier disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,755,006, dated April 15, 1930, when this type of drier is to be employed for simultaneously drying a series of individually continuous threads, such as a warp, wherein the threads are disposed substantially in lateral parallel relation to each other.

The object of the present invention is to control the threads constantly during the passage of the series through, and during its removal from, the drier, to prevent tangling or other destruc: tion of the threads of the series. More specifically, the invention concerns means for balancing the weight bars or rollers which are respectively disposed in the lower ends of the loops and extend transversely of the drier, to resist uneven lifting of a roller in and relative to its supporting loop, such as would be caused by excessive shrinking or too,rapid drying of one or more threads in one part of the series relative to the threads of another part of the series, which would produce an inclination of the roller tending to effect the working of the threads along the roller toward and off the relatively elevated end thereof.

The present invention also embodies means for retarding the lifting of the weight rollers at the discharge end of the drier, wherein the lifting is accomplished solely by a pull produced on one side of the retiring loop in the drawing of the threads out of the loop simultaneously by a drum over which the threads pass and by which the threads are advanced as a result of frictional contact with the peripheral surface of the drum; whereby the ascending weight roller is maintained substantially horizontal and parallel to the axis of the discharge drum; and whereby any individual thread which has a tendency to move out of the loop faster than the other threads of the series would be caused to slip on the surface of the discharge drum until the other threads of the series attain substantially equal tension therewith, the combined tensions of the threads of the entire series being necessary to overcome the retarding force applied to the retiring weight roller.

Construction and operation of the improvements constituting the subject matter of the present application will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. 1 is a. longitudinally sectional elevation of a drier of the type noted and illustrating the features of the present invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation showing the retarding mechanism in detail; 5

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3- 3, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 4--4, Fig. 1.

The drier comprises a casing 1 in which is mounted a pair of endless side chains 2, 2 of a loop-carrying conveyer 4. The conveyer 4 also comprises a plurality of transversely extending laterally spaced girts 3, 3 which are carried at their opposite ends by the chains 2, 2 respectively. A series, A, of substantially parallel threads a, a are adapted to be hung over the girts 3, 3, in a series of loops or festoons B, B. In the bottom of each loop B and supported solely by the threads of the series forming the loop is a weight bar or roller 5.

Each weight roller 5 is provided with axially extending trunnions 6, 6 which project outwardly from the opposite ends of the roller 5 into slots '7, 7 formed by and between adjacently disposed and relatively spaced edges of a series of guide plates 8, 8.

The guide plates 8, 8 are carried by endless chains 9, 9, which are respectively disposed at the opposite sides of the drier in vertical planes substantially coincident with those occupied by the conveyer side chains 2, 2.

The guide plates 8, 8 while they prevent lateral relative movement between the successive weight rollers 5, 5, to hold the festoons from engaging 35 one with another, permit normal free vertical parallel relative movement between the weight rollers, whereby the rollers may rise and fall with respect to each other in the course of the drying of the threads.

The series of threads A are fed into one end of the drier by a feeding drum 10, said threads passing downwardly between an adjacently disposed pair of the girts 3, 3 of the loop-carrying conveyer, 4, to form a loop as indicated at B in Fig. 1.

In order to start and effect the formation of a loop, one of the weight rollers 5 is placed on the threads 1:, a, of the series A, immediate a pair of girts 3, 3, over which the said threads are laid as the loop-carrying conveyer 4 moves in the direction of the arrow 0:, Fig. 1, during the feeding of the threads into the casing 1 by the feed drum 10 which revolves constantly with the threads 41., a, in frictional contact with the periphery thereof. 55

The feeding of the weight rollers 5 is accomplished by means of a feeding device 11 which forms no part of the present invention as the same is disclosed in the above-mentioned patent.

' The roller -feeding device 11 is supplied with rollers 5 by suitable conveying mechanism 12 which transports the said rollers from the delivery end to the feed end of the drier.

As the roller 5 in the loop B descends, during the formation of the loop B the trunnions 6, 6 of said roller become disposed between converging guides 13, 13 at each side of the drier, which direct said trunnions into the slots '7 of the stabilizing belts 53, 53 formed by the plates 8, 8 and chain 9 at each side of the drier.

The length of the loop being formed is determined by resilient stops 15, 15, disposed at the opposite sides respectively of the drier below the mouths 14, 14, formed by the converging guides 13, 13. Stopping of the downward movement of the roller 5 effects starting of a new loop as the girts 3 advance in the direction of the arrow at.

The stabilizing belts 53, 53 move in a corresponding direction and at substantially the same speed as the conveyer 4 and carry the projecting ends of the trunnions 6, 6, under the receiving ends 16, 16, of floating balance bars or strips 1'7, 17 respectively disposed at the opposite sides of the drier, said balance bars being anchored against longitudinal movement, adjacent the ends 16 thereof, by suitable pivots 18, 18, which are secured to fixed portions of the drier. I

The balance bars 17, 1'! are longitudinally flexible insofar as relative vertical movements between various portions thereof, lengthwise of the drier, are concerned, while the anchorages 18 maintain the floating weight bars against lateral movement as a whole or relatively at various points throughout the length thereof.

The floating weight of the bars 1'7, 1'7, by riding the top surfaces of the trunnions 6, 6 at the opposite ends of the weight rollers 5 tend to hold the weight rollers in substantially horizontal balance, transversely of the drier, as the said rollers are moved toward the delivery end thereof by the stabilizing belts 53, 53, whereby any tendency of any of the rollers 5 to rise at one side of the drier relative to the other side thereof is firmly, though resiliently, resisted.

If for any reason the tension on the threads a at one side of the drier should overcome the weight of the floating bar 1'7 at such side of the drier the said floating bar would be raised into contact with a fixed horizontal longitudinally extending limit bar 19, which overhangs the floating balance bar 17, at each side of the drier, whereby further upward movement of the rising roller would be positively prevented.

Under the aforesaid condition, the threads a would tend to work toward the elevated end of the roller, which would result in at least the marginal threads of the series slipping over the end of the body p ortion of the roller and becoming entangled around the trunnion thereof. Such ab-- drier throughout substantially the full length.

thereof. The said guides 20 and 20a are maintained in relatively fixed positions'at such distances inwardly from the ends of the rollers 5 as to prevent the threads a from working over the ends of the weight rollers.

To insure against any thread, which may be I a Fig. 1, the trunnions 6, 6 at the opposite ends of the rollers 5 are moved successively from under the free ends 22, 22, of the floating balance bars 1'7, 1'7 and thereafter tend to rise in the slots '7 of the stabilizing belts until the said trunnions engage the lower sides of relatively adjustable sections 19a, 19a of the fixed stop bars 19, 19, said sections 19a, 19a being adapted for movement longitudinally with respect to and in line with the fixed portions of the bars 19, 19, toward the discharge end of the drier, by levers 23, 23. Continued movement of the loop-carrying conveyer 4 and stabilizing belts 53, 53, in the direction of the arrow :v, causes the trunnions 6, 6, to ride from under the ends 24, 24 of the bar sections 19a, 190. into contact with inclined guides 25, 25, at which time a roller 5 leaving the ends 24, 24 of the stop bars 19a, 19a, is raised by the threads a, a, at one side of the retiring loop B being advanced by frictional contact with the retiring loop B As the weight bar 5 in the retiring loop B rises along the inclined guides 25, 25 the trunnions 6, 6 thereof each enter a mouth 27, formed by a pair of vertical substantially parallel guides 28 and 29, at each side of the drier, whereby the trunnion 6 at each end of the retiring roller 5 is held to movement in a definite vertical path.

Adjacent each of the guides 29 is a vertical track 30 against which bears the links of a chain 31. Each of the chains 31 is.provided with a plurality of stop lugs 32 which engage the upper surfaces of the trunnions 6, 6 of the retiring roller 5. The chains 31, 31 pass around sprockets 33 and 34 which in turn are secured to transversely extending shafts 35 and 36, the shaft 36 being disposed below the mouths 27, 2'7 formed by the converging guides 25 and 29, said shafts 35 and 36 being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings secured to fixed portions of the drier, such for example, as the tracks 30, 30.

Secured to the shaft 36 in the present instance is a circumferentially grooved wheel 40 about which passes a band 41 having one end 42 secured by an anchorage 43 to a fixed portion of the drier. The opposite end 44 of the band 41 is rigidly connected to a stem 45 which is slidably mounted in a bearing 46, The bearing 46 is pivotally mounted at 4'7 to a lever 48 which in turn is pivotally mounted at 49 to a fixed portion of the drier, providing a toggle lock for the end 44 of the band 41.

The stem 45 projects through the bearing 46 and is provided on its projecting end with an adjustable abutment 50, between which and the bearing 46, and encircling the stem 45, is a spring 51, by which the band 41 is placed under yielding tension, said tension and the frictional qualities of the band 41 and wheel 40 producing the desired retarding eilect which affords a predetermined amount or resistance to movement of the chains 31, 31 in the direction of the arrow 1/, Fig. 2, such retardation of the chain 31 being transmitted by the lugs 32 on said chains 31, 31 to the trunnions 6, 6 at the opposite ends of the retiring weight roller 5.

The retarding force is applied equally at opposite sides of the drier, to the opposite ends of the retiring roller 5, whereby said roller is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane and all of the threads a of the series A are consequently maintained under substantially equal tension placed thereon by reason of their frictional contact with the peripheral surface of the desired drum 26.

As the loop B is completely retired the retiring roller 5 is lifted out oi contact therewith by roller-lifting wheels 52, 52 at the opposite sides of the drier, which place the rollers 5 successively on the conveyers 12 by which said rollers are again returned to the feed end of the drier.

If for any reason it should become necessary to release the chains 31, 31, quickly, from the retarding force produced by the wheel 40 and band 41, such release may be eiIected by merely swinging the lever 48 in a direction of the arrow 2, Fig. 2, whereby the stem 45 is carried across the pivot 49 of the lever 48, breaking the toggle lock, whereupon further movement of the lever 48 in the direction of the arrow z will release the band 41 from the wheel 40 and permit the shaft 36 to rotate freely, consequently allowing the chains 31, 31, to move in the direction of the arrow 1 devoid of any retardation, excepting that produced by the normal friction of the relatively moving parts.

We claim:

1. In apparatus comprising a plurality of supports having material hung in loops thereon, weights in and suspended by said loops, means engaging said weights prior to and during the retirement of each loop for retiring said loops successively, and means yieldingly resisting movement of the weights as eiIected by shortening of the loops.

2. In apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having material hung in loops thereon, weights in and suspended by said loops, means for retiring said loops successively at a predetermined station along said path, means yieldingly resisting movement of said weights as efiected by shortening of the loops in advance of said retirement, and means applying a retardatory force to the weight of the retiring loop.

3. In apparatus comprising a plurality oi. supports movable in a given path and having material hung in loops thereon, weights in and suspended by said loops, means for retiring said loops successively at a predetermined station along said path, means yieldingly resisting movement of said weights as efiected by shortening of the loops in advance of said retirement, and positive acting means cooperating with said yielding resisting means to define the extent of said advance loop shortening.

4. In apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for, in and suspended solely by each collective loop,

means for retiring said collective loops succes-,

sively at a predetermined station along said path, means applying a retardatory force to the weight in the retiring collective loop, and a resilient element at each side or the path of said collective loops for engagement with the opposite ends of said weights for yieldingly resisting elevation of one end of a collective loop' weight by shortening of individual loops of individual threads of the series in advance of said collective loop retirement.

5. In apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for, in and suspended solely by each collective loop, means for retiring said collective loops successively at a predetermined station along said path, means applying a retardatory force to the weight in the retiring collective loop, a resillent element at each side of the path of said collective loops for engagement with the opposite ends of said weights for yieldingly resisting elevation of one end of a collective loop weight by shortening of individual loops of individual threads of the series in advance of said collective loop retirement, and stationary means in vertical spaced relation to each of said resilient elements for defining the extent of elevation positively.

6. In apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for, in and suspended solely by each collective loop, means for retiring said collective loops successively at a predetermined station along said path, means for yieldingly resisting elevation oi! one end of a collective loop weight by shortening of individual loops of individual threads of the series, and means engaging the opposite ends respectively of the weight in the retiring collective loop for applying retardatory force equally to the opposite ends of the said retiring loop weight.

7. In apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for, in and suspended solely by each collective loop, a drum trictionally engaging the threads of the series for retiring the collective loops successively at a predetermined station along said path, means for yieldingly resisting elevation of one end of a collective loop weight by shortening of individual thread loops in advance of said collective loop retirement, equalizing means engaging the opposite ends of the retiring loop weight to maintain said weight in substantial parallel relation to the axis of said drum, and means applying a retardatory force to said equalizing means for resisting the withdrawal of individual threads from the series in the retiring loop by said drum.

8. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having material hung in loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each loop, and resilient means at opposite sides of said loops and engaging the opposite ends of said weights respectively throughout the length of said path for yieldingly resisting relative shortening of said loops along said path as a result of tensioning of the material in said loops.

9. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each collective loop, and means for yieldingly resisting elevation of one end of a collective loop weight by shortening of individual thread loops.

10. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each collective loop, and resilient elements suspended in floating relation to on and by said collective loop weights at opposite ends thereof respectively for yieldingly resisting tilting of each weight by shortening of individual thread loops.

11. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having a series of threads hung substantially parallel to each other in collective loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each collective loop, resilient elements extending longitudinally of said path and suspended in floating relation to on and by said collective loop weights at opposite ends thereof respectively for yieldingly resisting tilting of each weight by shortening of individual thread loops, and means for anchoring said resilient elements at the ends thereof first engaged by said weights.

12. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having material hung in loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each loop, a'drum for drawing the material out of said loops successively, equalizing means engaging the opposite ends of the retiring loop weight for maintaining said weight substantially parallel to the axis of said drum, and means for applying retardatory force to said equalizing means.

13. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having material hung in loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each loop, a drum for drawing the material out of said loops successively, a continuous normally free movable ele-:-

ment at each side of the retiring loop, lugs on said continuous elements for engaging the 'opposite ends of the retiring loop weight, andmeans for applying retardatory force equally to said continuous elements.

14. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having.

material hung in loops thereon, a weight for in and suspended solely by each loop, a drum for:

drawing the material out of said loops successively, 'a sprocket chain at each side of the .re-

tiring loop, lugs on said chains for engaging the opposite ends of the retiring loop weight,

sprockets around which said chains pass, a common shaft to which the sprockets at one end-'of the runs of said chains are rigidly secured, abrake wheel rigidly secured to said shaft, and a' brake element engaging said wheel for applying a retardatory force to said retiring loop weight.

15. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of supports movable in a given path and having material hung in loops thereon, a weight for in: and suspended solely by each loop, a drum forv drawing the material out of said loops meow-.

sively, a sprocket chain at each side of the retiring loop, lugs on said chains for engaging the tardatory force to said retiring loop weight, and

a readily releasable toggle lock for maintaining said brake element in contact with said brake wheel.

ALPI-IEUS O. HURXTHAL."

FREDERICK E. HURXTHAL; 

